Bertelsmann, the parent company of pan-European broadcaster RTL and Stieg Larsson publisher Random House, has reported a 16% year-on-year fall in earnings in the first three months of 2011.

The German company, which also owns magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr and music joint venture BMG, said the fall in operating earnings before interest and tax to €245m (£213m) was partly due to the impact of Easter falling in late April this year.

Last year Bertelsmann's first quarter figures were boosted by the advertising surge around Easter, which fell earlier in April last year. The company also said that the earnings drop was partly due to "start-up and programme investments".

However, the company reported a slight boost in revenues, up about 2% year on year to €3.6bn, and a doubling of group profit for the period from €45m to €94m. Net debt fell to €1.7bn.

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